Outboard motor



H J- HIILLBRN OUTBOARD MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed March 26, 1923 INVENTOR: I MM Fig.1

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This invention relates outboard motors.

1n the type of outboard motor to which this invention is. particularly applicable, the proits supporting shaft and the submerged propeller shaft ried at the lower end of an elongated tubular housingwhich is dirigible and which is rotated to efi'ect the steering of the craft to which the outboard motor is attached. The driving shaft extends'downwardly through the dirigible tubular housing above referred to and is usually disposed at right angles to the propeller shaft and the submerged gear housing.

An outboard motor of the type discussed in the preceding paragraph is disclosed in the patent to C. J. Meyer, No. 1,191,211, dated July 18, 1916. In the above mentioned patent the tubular shaft housing is not only dirigible to improvements in for steering purposes but is also arranged to.

be released for rotation upon its axis through a full 180 arc to efiect a reversal. For this purpose a latch mechanism is incorporated in the device between the tiller and theshaft housing and is adapted, when released, to

permit the shaft housing to rotate to' efiect the reversing operation. 1n the above men tioned patent it will be noted also that the internal combustion engine forming a part of this type of outboard motor is secured against movement about the steering axis, the tiller being connected to a part independent. of said engine. l[n the present case, as will be shown more particularly hereinafter, the internal combustion engine is mounted to oscillate about the steering axis as a unit with the dirigible shaft housing and submerged parts for steering purposes, the tiller being connected directly with the engine. desire particularly,-however, to call attention to the fact that in-neither case does the engine oscillate upon its axis for reversing purposes to eflect a reversal. The latch mechanism connecting the tiller with the dirigible shaft'housing is released and the shaft housing is automatilitl cally impelled by engine'torque to rotate to a point where the reversal is accomplished. ][n reversal, therefore, it is essential only that .the shaft housing moves independently of the engine, and it is immaterial to this invention whether it be applied to a structure in which gear housing are carshaft housing for purposes that; t an no. errata. chewed a u a, that.

the engine oscillates for steering purposesor not.

A bracket supports the transom of the craft which it is to drive, or from some other suitable position with respect to said craft. A pivotal connection is usually provided between the motor and the bracket, whereby the inclination of the trant0 is necessary to provide an interlocking device 7 between the dirigible tubular housing and the bracket, this latch mechanism being so arranged as to release the housing when the propeller is driving the boat forwardly and to the propeller is to engage the housing when driving the boat rearwardly. Thus when the boat is being normally driven in a forward direction, the dirigible housing is left free to swing upwardly, together with all the submerged parts of the motor, when an obstacle at I IS encountered in the water. On the other hand, when the propeller is driving the boat rearwardly, its thrust, which would otherwise tend to rotate the dirigible housing and submerged parts upon the pivotal connection of to the motor with the bracket, is now transmitted directly through the interlocking device to the bracket and the boat, thus tending to impel the boat rearwardly.

The internal combustion engine forming as part of'an outboard motor is essentially the heaviest part of the device. llf, therefore, it be rotated with the submerged parts and of reversal, it

such parts. Quickness of action is very desirable ln effecting a reversal in order that the propeller thrust will not for any material ength of time be exerted in a direction tendthe entire motor from 55 pivotal mounting to is contemplated that the v of the motor en- 7 ing to tip the craft to which the outboard motor is attached. It is furthermore desirable in the use of an interlocking device, such as is herein disclosed for connecting the rotatable shaft housing with the bracket, to provide for the quick operation of such a device and to guard against its operation with any excessive momentum. It is, therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide an interlocking device between an outboard motor and its supporting bracket which will have an operating part connected with a motor element which is movable for reversing purposes independently of the internal combustion engine. By this means I propose to minimize inertia and momentum effects and to increase the speed of operation of the interlocking device, and decrease the possibility that such a device might become jammed through its operation .vith great momentum at an inopportune time.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved form of interlocking mechanism which will be extremely compact and will thus be adapted to provide the necessary strength without the use of an undue weight of metal.

In the'drawings:

Figure is a side elevation of a complete outboard engine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view comprising a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating in rear elevation my improved latch mechanism in its releasing position.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 22 of Figure 1 and corresponding to Figure 2 except that the latch mechanism is shown in its locked position.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of I Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure '6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 77 of Figure 1. I

. Figure 8 'is an enlarged section taken on line 84-8 of Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-1-0. of Figure 9. a

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The outboard motor shown in Figure 1 is quite generally of standard construction. It includes a cylinder 10, fuel tank 11, fly wheel 12, tiller 13, dirigible housing 14 connected with the tiller for actuation thereby, sub merged gear housin 15, and propeller 16.

In supporting re ation to the crank case 17 of theengine and encircling the dirigible shaft housing 14 is a two-part bearing mem-' ber 18 having flanges by means of which its parts can be secured together by suitable bolts and nuts, as shown. This bearing member carries a laterally projecting axis pin 19 upon which sleeves 2O integral with bracket 21 are journaled. The bracket 21 carries a set screw 22 by means of which the transom of a rowboat or similar'light craft may conveniently be engaged in the usual manner. The arm 23 of the bracket extends downwardly at the rear of a transom so engaged and is provided near its extremity with a pair of rearwardly extending arms 24 and 25, respectively. These arms are spaced apart to receive between them the transmission shaft housing 14 and the interlocking mechanism above referred to. The pivotal connection provided between the bracket and the supporting bearing sleeve 18 through the axis pin 19 and sleeve 20 is more particularly described and claimed in a companion application to be filed herewith.

It will be obvious, however, that the entire engine, supported as it is for pivotal adjustment about the axis of the pin 19, may be oscillated about said axis either to bring it to a position where the axis of the propeller will be horizontal or to permit the propeller and related submerged parts of the engine to swing upwardly when an obstacle is en countered.

The aforesaid interlocking mechanism constitutes two members, one of which is a recessed block 29 adjustable between the arms 24 and 25 of the bracket, and the second constitutes a peculiarly formed sleeve 30 connected with the dirigible housing 14 of the transmission shaft and providing a number of dogs or projections adapted to interact and interlock with the recessed block 29. It will be understood that this particular motor is reversed by permitting the torque of the engine to rotate the dirigible housing 14 180 with respect to the tiller 13. The reversal may be accomplished by mechanism such as is disclosed in the patent to C. J. Meyer, No. 1,191,211, dated July 18, 1916. The effect of the reversal is to move through a 180 arc the gear housing 15 and propeller 16 so that the thrust of the propeller is thereupon transmitted in an opposite direction to the dirigible shaft housing 14. The interlocking mechanism which includes block 29 and the peculiarly formed sleeve 30 is so designed that when the dirigible tube 14 is in one position the latch will be unlocked and when the dirigible tube is rotated through 180 the block 29 and sleeve 30 will interlock to retain the tubular housing 14 fixed against bodily movement relative to the arms 24 and 25.

The block 29 is provided with a cylindrical bore 31 extending vertically therethrough. A number of ports 32, 33, and 34 open from this bore to the rear face of the block and communicate with each other so that a continuous openin from top to bottom of the block isforme These ports, however, are alternately staggered. The right and left noaaaia walls of the ports may conveniently be made parallel to the inner faces of arms 24 and 25, respectively. Thus, as viewed in Figures 2 to 6, inclusive, the right walls of ports 32 and 34 are substantially tangential to the dirigible tubular housing 14 through which steering and reversing is efl'ected and the left walls of said ports are tangential to the bore 31 which is of considerably greater diameter than housing 14. Port 33 is just the opposite, its left wall being tangential to the tubular housing 14 and its right wall tangential to bore 31. The result of this construction is to provide a vertically extending, rearwardly opening, and centrally disposed passage through the entire rear face of block 29 and including all three of the so-called ports 32, 33, and 34. This passage has a minimum width which is equal to the diameter of the tubular housing 14 and is adequate to permit said housing to pass therethrough. The so-called ports, however, provide alternately upon opposite sides of the central passage laterally extending recesses, which are adapted to permit the assage, on that side of thecenter line, an obyect wider than the tubular housing 14.

The element which has been described as sleeve 30 is cylindrical in plan and is of a size to fit closely within the cylindrical bore 31 through block 29. 14 view of the sleeve 30 in elevatlon, however, discloses the fact that it comprises in reality a number of segments 35, 36, and 37 arranged in symmetrically staggered relation to project upon opposite sides of the dirigible tubular housing 14 which is encircled by the sleeve. The general configuration of these segments is clearly steering purposes.

shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6.

The arrangement is such that the sleeve 30, comprising segments 35, 36 and 37 alternately staggered to project upon opposite sides of the tubular housing 14, is fastened to said housing for rotation therewith. When said housing is in the position in which it appears n Figure 1' and is supporting the gear housmg 15 and propeller 16 for the forward propulsion of the craft to which bracket 21 is attached, then the parts viewed in rear elevation will appear as shown in Figure 2. Figures 4 and 6 are cross sections taken from tltligure 2 and also show the parts in 'the posiion being propelled straight ahead. It will clearly appear that port 32 is so disposed as to permit the rearward passage of segment 35 as well as of the tubular housing 14 when the parts are in the position indicated. Further more, the design is such that the rearward passage of the segment 35 and tubular housing 14 may be accomplished even though said housing and segment are rotated slightly for Each of the other ments 36 and 37 will be noted to be correspondingly aligned for passage through the ports 33 and 34, respectively, so that as long in which they appear when the boat is as the tubular housing 14 is in the position shown or within a few degrees of that position, the interlocking mechanism will-be open to permit the entire motor to oscillate freely about its pivot on the transverse pin 19.

The segments 35, 36, and 37 are so designed as to permit a rotat-ive movement of the dirigible'housing 14 for approximately 35 in either direction from the position in which it is indicated in the accompanying drawings and particularly in ltigures 1, 2, 4, and 6 thereof. This isdone in order to make steering possible without interfering with the instantaneous release of the submerged mechanism in the event that an obstacle is encountered...

It has already been suggested that the interlocking mechanism herein disclosed may beapplied to an outboard motor embodying the reversing latch disclosed in the patent to 'C. J. Meyer, referred to above. As an alternative construction, however, disclosure is made herein of a device in which the internal combustionengine forming a part of this outboard motor is mounted to oscillate about the axis of shaft housing 14 for steering purposes.

To this end the tiller 13 is connected with a latch casing 50 which sup orts the crank case 17 and the other parts of the engine. .4 sleeve 51, which may be integral with latch casing 56, extends downwardly within the bearing sleeve 18 previously referred to herein, and is shouldered at 52. to receive support therefrom. Thus, when an o erative connection is established by the late mechanism within latch casing 50 between the tiller 13 and the dirigible shaft housing 14, it will be obvious that the tiller may be employed to oscillate not only the shaft housing but also the entire engine about the axis of said housing and of sleeve 18 for steering purposes.

The dirigible shaft housing 14 carries at its upper end ahead 53 upon which are oppositely disposed lugs 54. The dogs 55 and 56, pivoted to the latch casing 50 as shown, are provided with shoulders for the engagement of lugs 54. The dogs are normally maintained in position for engagement with said lugs by means of springs 57-and 58, respectively. The relation between the above parts is best shown in Figure 9. lt will be obvious that with the arts arranged as shown in said figure, the head 53 will be locked against rotation in ing 50and will thereby beadapted totransmit oscillatory movements of said latch casing to the dirigible shaft housing 14 for steering purposes.

Tiller 13 is provided internally with a rotatable shaft 59to which the tiller grip 60 is connected by a coupling member 61. An odset portion 13 of the tiller provides for a rocker arm 62 which preferably comprises a fork, the extremity of which is engaged with a sleeve 63 axially slidable upon a rod 64. Rod

either direction with respect to the latch cas- 64 connects the tiller with latch casing 13, as shown in Figure 9, and provides a guide for spring 57 as well as for the sleeve 63 above referred to. Sleeve 63 extends into operative relation to the end of dog and is adapted to transmit thereto the motion of arm 62 carried by the rock shaft 59 within the tiller. Thus, when the tiller grip 60 is oscillated upon its axis in the proper direction its motion will be changed to a reciprocating motion of sleeve 63 and it will thereby be enabled to actuate dog 55 against the pressure of spring 57 to a position for the release of lug 54.

The torque of the engine comprising a part of the outboard motor structure will be transmitted through means well known in the art to the shaft housing 14 and head 53, thereby tending to turn said head in the direction indicated by the arrow'in Figure 9. Thus, when dog 55 is released through the oscillation of the tiller grip as aforesaid, the shaft housing will be free to rotate upon its axis until the dog 55 is restored by spring 57 to its normal position. At such time the shaft housing and submerged parts will come to rest and the motor will remain in its forward propelling or reverse propelling position, according to which of the lugs 54 is engaged with dog 55. Dog 56 serves merely to function as a pawl to prevent any retrogressive movement of head 53 with respect to latch casing 50 at such timesas the torque of the engine is not opera-- tive. The latch mechanism above described has been described more particularly in a cop'ending application and is not specifically a part of this invention, with the exception that it provides for permitting the internal combustion engine to remain stationary at such times as reversal occurs, and thereby avoids momentum efiects undesirable in an interlocking device such as may connect the motor to the bracket against tilting.

As has just been explained, the reversal of the direction of travel of a craft to which an outboard motor embodying this invention is attached may be accomplished by rotating the dirigible tubular housing 14 through 180 independently of the engine. When the housing 14 is so rotated, the sleeve 30, being fast thereon, will rotate therewith and as a result of this rotation of the sleeve, its several segments 35, 36, and 37 will each be brought into a portion of bore 31 from which no port affords them egress. This arrangement of parts is illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 and it will be obviousthat with the parts in this position, there can be no release of the dirigible housing 14 from block. 29. Thus, although the thrust of propeller 16 is now directed rearwardly, such thrust will be transmitted through segments 35, 36, and 37 of sleeve 30 and through block 29 to the bracket arms 24 and 25 and thence through the bracket to the bore. There will be no possibility for the motor to oscillate upon the axis of the transverse pin 19 as long 36, and 37 again into registry with the lat-v erally staggered portions 32, 33, and 34 of the opening in the rear face of block 29. The engine will not be maintained against oscillation upon the pivot pin 19 solely by the thrust of propeller 16 which is exerted in a forward direction and constantly forces sleeve 30 upon housing 14 into contact with the wall of bore 31. Through this contact, the propulsive force of the propeller is transmitted to bracket 21 and thence to the boat.

To prevent the accidental release of the interlocking mechanism when the boat is being propelled rearwardly or to prevent the said mechanism from accidental engagement when the boat is being propelled forwardly, a pin 40 movable with the tiller is provided. This pin contacts with stops 41 upon the relatively fixed bearing sleeve 18 and the position of these steps will obviously determine the angular extent to which the tiller 13 may be oscillated for steering purposes. Thus the angular rotation of the tiller and of the dirigible tubular housing 14 is so limited that under no circumstances will such rotation exceed the desired amount. As has previously been indicated, the illustrated embodiment of this invention is so designed that 7 0 of steering movement is possible, 35 of rotation being permitted on each side of the center line. A far greater range is possible if desired.

For the purpose of adjusting this outboard engine to various types of craft, the block 29 is made bodily adjustable between arms 24 and 25 and may be secured in a plurality of adjusted positions by means of set screws 42 which are threaded for insertion through selected apertures in said arms. Thus, regardless of the angle of inclination of anygivcn transom, the dirigible "tubular housing 14 may be set substantially vertically so that the axis of propeller 16 will be substantially horizontal. Regardless of the adjustment to which block 29 is set, it will be obvious that the interlocking mechanism above described will be operative to release dirigible housin 14 whenever the propeller is operating wit 1 a forward thrust and to confine said tubular housing against release when the propeller isioperating with a rearward thrust.

It will be noted that the interlocking mechanism above described is particularly compact and may be reduced to such small dimensions that it will practically be concealed and neaaeia protected between arms 24 and 25. Moreover, the construction is such that great strength is obtained with comparatively little wei ht of material.

It Wllll also be noted that inasmuch as the type of motor herein illustrated is such that reversing may be accomplished by releasing the shaft housing and allowing it to rotate independently of the engine, the inertia and momentum of the parts operated in accomplishing a reversal of direction of travel is thereby greatly reduced and the interlocking mechanism is secured against the cram ing action which might conceivably occur i the interlocking parts were to be rotated with any considerable degree of momentum at an inptp ortune time. 7

c arm:

11.. .dn outboard motor including the combination with the submerged portions thereof and a supporting member for said portions rotatable for steering and reversing said motor and oscillatable with said submerged portions about a transverse axis above the water till line; of an interlocking device comprising a relativel fixed block having a bore extending theret rough, a passa e opening rearwardly from said bore an lateral notches in the side walls of said passage; and a sleeve upon said supporting member and movable therewith, said sleeve being provided with staggered, laterally projecting segments of combined diameters substantially equal to said bore and adapted in one position to register with said notches and in other positions to tail to register'therewith.

2. In an outboard motor, the combination with a bracket; ot a normally upright hous-- ing pivoted upon said bracket and rotatable upon its axis for the steering or reverse of said motor; a set of lugs projecting upon opposite sides of said housing; a relatively fixed block secured to said bracket and provided internally with a bore of a size to receive said housing and lugs; and a passageway through v the rear face oi said block having a minimum width to receive said housing and notches extending laterally in registry normally with said lugs, said lugs, upon rotation of said housing, being carried within said bore'to a point opposite an unnotched portion of the rear wall of said block.

3. ln an outboard motor, the combination with a tubular housing rotatable for steering and reversing and oscillatable about a remote axis, of a latch comprising a relatively fixed block centrally bored and provided with reardid wardly opening ports staggered and communicating with each'other to constitute a continuous passage through the rear face of said block of a minimum diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said housing, the corresponding walls ot" adjacent ports being alternately tangential to said housing and to said bore, and-segmental lugs in staggered ports for emergence or entry therethrough with said housing.

4:. An interlocking mechanism including a relatively fixed bloc-k having a central bore and a passageway opening through said block into said bore and provided with staggered laterally extending notches, and a relatively rotatable and bodily movable member of a diameter equal to the minimum diameter of said passageway and provided with laterally projecting lugs adapted in one position of said member to register with said notches and rotatable with said member in said bore to register with an unnotched portion of the wall 0t said block.

5. An interlocking mechanism comprising a member rotatable upon its axis and bodily movable, a relatively fixed member'having a central bore of greater diameter than said rotatable member, and axially staggered lugs extending oppositely with respect to said rotatable member and movable therewith, said relatively fixed member being provided in one of its walls with a series of staggered ports affording communication with said bore and providing a continuous passageway with parallel walls having alternate portions of each wall tangential respectively to said bore and to said rotatable member,

6. The combination with a bracket, of an outboard motor including a supporting element tiltably connected with the bracket, an engine mounted for oscillation in said supporting element, a stop adapted to limit relative oscillation between said element and said engine, a tiller connected with said engine for the oscillation thereof, a shaft housing normally latched to said engine for oscillation therewith and independently rotatable with I respect to said engine upon the release of said mit said housing to tilt with respect to said bracket and adapted upon the independent rotation of said housing with respect to said engine to engage said housing to said bracket against tilting movement.

7 The combination with a bracket, of an outboard motor including a supportingelement tiltable with respect to said bracket, a dirigible part supported from said element for oscillation with respect thereto, a tiller connected with said part for the oscillation thereof for steering purposes, means for limiting the extent of oscillation of said tiller and said part with respect to said supporting bill bit

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element, propulsion mechanism oscillatory about a substantially upright axis for steering purposes and releasably latched to said part for movement therewith, said propulsion mechanism being rotatable independently of said part between two predetermined positions for the forward and reverse propulsion of said motor and oscillatory with said part in either of said positions within the range determined by said stop, and means automatically operable upon the rotation of said propulsion device to its reverse position and within the range of oscillation aforesaid for restraining said supporting element against tilting with respect to the bracket, said means being automatically operable to release said element for tilting upon the restoration of said propulsion mechanism to its forward position and within the range aforesaid.

HERBERT J. HILLBORN. 

